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Last Sunday at our church, I preached a message entitled Weeping Over God’s Will from Acts 21:1-16. The context of the message was the apostle Paul’s gritty determination to pursue God’s will in his life, regardless of the fact that he knew it would lead him to persecution and arrest. Along the way, he was warned and had several people prophesy that indeed, he was walking into a hornet’s nest of hardship. Well-meaining Christians earnestly sought to dissuade him from continuing, which led him to cry out:

“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (v13)

Here are some thoughts on how to know God’s will from the perspective of how NOT to determine God’s will and then how to know God’s will. I’ve also included links to the full sermon as well as the excerpt that covers the points below:

How NOT to determine God’s will:

Assume that God wants you to be comfortable and happy.

Believe that a larger paycheck, bigger opportunity is from God.

Rationalize.

Rely only on pros and cons.

Rely only on open/closed doors.

Claim to know God’s will for someone else.

Assume that more “fruitfulness” is the path.

How TO determine God’s will:

Cultivate a daily relationship with Him that includes: prayer, scripture, community, joy.

Love people with all your heart.

Understand that God wants you holy before He wants you happy.

Seek wise counsel.

Accept that God’s will may not be what you want, but it will be what you wonder at later.

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Notes from the TrailThe Personal Blog of Jeff NobleInfo: From the misty hills of Virginia, "Notes from the Trail" seeks to encourage you on your journey. Written by a graphic designer-pastor, this blog is a blend of humor, insight, and faith discovery.

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